[a. F. charme-r (13th c. in Littré), f. charme CHARM sb.1]
1. trans. To act upon with or as with a charm or magic, so as to influence, control, subdue, bind, etc.; to put a spell upon; to bewitch, enchant.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 2411. And hymen he charmeþ so, þat hy ne myȝte a-wakye noȝt.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxxiii. 288. He enchaunted and charned oure knyghtis.
1535. Coverdale, Jer. viii. 17. I will sende Cockatrices & serpentes amonge you (which will not be charmed).
1591. Florio, Sec. Frutes, 13. It is good to drinke in a morning to charme the mist.
1794. S. Williams, Vermont, 128. Each of these animals have a power of fascinating, or charming birds.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., II. xxiv. 243. They wanted me … to charm or cure him.
Mod. Many people still believe in charming warts.
b. Const. to and inf. (obs.), from. Also † fig. To persuade or induce to, to dissuade from.
1594. Greene, Fr. Bacon, ix. If thou canst by magic charm The fiend … From pulling down the branches of the tree.
1605. Shaks., Macb., IV. i. 129. Ile Charme the Ayre to giue a sound. Ibid. (1607), Timon, IV. iii. 454. Has almost charm’d me from my Profession, by perswading me to it.
a. 1687. Petty, Pol. Arith., i. (1691), 31. As if Men could be charmed to transplant themselves from their own Native … Country merely by Words.
1795. Southey, Joan of Arc, VIII. 440. Nor all her hellish arts Can charm my arrows from their destin’d course.
c. With various extensions; e.g.: To charm asleep, charm away, charm out, etc.
1549. Coverdale, Erasm. Par. Gal. 8. He … that … charmyng out your christian mynde hath by enchauntment cast you into this frensye.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., IV. ii. 39. This Hydra-Sonne of Warre … Whose dangerous eyes may well be charm’d asleepe. Ibid. (1611), Cymb., I. vi. 117. ’Tis your Graces That from my mutest Conscience, to my tongue, Charmes this report out.
1712–4. Pope, Rape Lock, V. 20. Oh! if to dance all night, and dress all day, Charm’d the small-pox, or chas’d old-age away.
1762. Goldsm., Nash, 26–7. He would charm away the poison of the Doctor’s toad, as they usually charmed the venom of the Tarantula, by music.
1796. Burke, Regic. Peace, i. Wks. VIII. 232. To charm that rich prize out of the iron gripe of robbery and ambition!
1806. Canning, Poet. Wks. (1827), 56. ’Twill charm away the fiends.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., xxi. When Science … charms Her secret from the latest moon. Ibid. (1859), Vivien, 330. The charm so taught will charm us both to rest.
2. To endow with supernatural powers or virtues by means of charms; esp. to fortify against evil or dangers.
a. 1564. Becon, Humble Supplic., in Prayers, etc. (1844), 234. The bishop mumbleth a few Latin words over the child, charmeth him, crosseth him.
c. 1590. Marlowe, Faust., vii. 56. Then charm me that I may be invisible.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, IV. 351 (R.). Feed not the Grecians pride; They are not charm’d against your points, of steele, nor iron fram’d.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., V. iii. 68. I, in mine owne woe charm’d, Could not finde death.
† b. To mark with a symbol as a charm. Obs.
1678. Lond. Gaz., No. 1338/4. A grey Mare … charm’d upon the 4 fetter-lock joints.
3. intr. To work charms, use enchantments or spells, practise magic.
c. 1300. K. Alis., 342. Thus charmed Neptanabus.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter lvii[i]. 5. He charmys swa wisely in his crafte.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVIII. x. (1495), 763. She heryth not the voys of the charmyng nother comyth out to hym that charmyth.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. lvii[i]. 5. That she shulde not heare the voyce of the charmer, charme he neuer so wysely.
1602. Shaks., Ham., I. i. 163. No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm, So hallow’d and so gracious is the time.
1662. R. Mathew, Unl. Alch., § 71. 93–4. I do with joy and laughter give my enemies leave to charm against my Pill.
4. To overcome or subdue, as if by magic power; to calm, soothe, allay, assuage. † To charm the tongue: (formerly a very common phrase for) to keep it silent.
c. 1540. Play Wit & Sc. (1848), 37. Fall you to kyssyng, syr, now a dayes? Your mother shall charme you, go your wayes!
1547–64. Bauldwin, Mor. Philos., xi. (Palfr.), 170. Charme thy tongue, thy belly, and thy privities.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., V. ix. 39. A person … That well could charme his tongue, and time his speach.
1602–9. A. Munday, Palmerin of Eng., I. xii. E 3. Berolde of Spaine, receiuing him at the point of his Launce, charmed his bolde attempt.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., V. 254. The stench of His corps could be charmed with no embalming.
1708. Pope, Ode St. Cecilia, 218. Music the fiercest grief can charm.
1799. Campbell, Pleas. Hope, I. 285. Mercy gave, to charm the sense of woe, Ideal peace.
1879. Farrar, St. Paul (1883), 670. The sound of their own language … charmed their rage for the moment.
5. fig. To influence, enthral, powerfully attract or engage (the mind, senses, etc.) by beauty, sweetness, or other attractive quality; to fascinate, captivate, bewitch, enchant, delight.
In Shakespeare’s time, still a strong metaphor from sense 1; but now, from constant use, applied without any thought of this connection.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 70. Charmyn, begylyn or forspekyn, fascino.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., II. ii. 19. Fortune forbid my out-side haue not charm’d her. Ibid. (1610), Temp., IV. i. 178. So I charm’d their eares That Calfe-like they my lowing follow’d.
1665–9. Boyle, Occas. Refl. (1675), 360. The moderate Beauty they disclose to the Eye (which is sufficient to please, though not to charm it).
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 787. They … with jocond Music charm his ear.
1710. Swift, Lett. (1768), III. 17. That’s something charms me mightily about London.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 279, ¶ 3. He every where charms and pleases us by the Force of his own Genius.
1716–8. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., I. x. 33. I was perfectly charmed with the empress.
1871. Morley, Voltaire (1886), 124. What always charmed him in Racine and Boileau … was that they said what they intended to say.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 491. I can tell you a charming tale … And we, Socrates … shall be charmed to listen.
b. absol.
1704. Pope, Spring, 76. If Sylvia smiles … vanquish’d nature seems to charm no more. Ibid. (1732), Ess. Man, II. 200. The fiery soul abhorr’d in Catiline, In Decius charms, in Curtius is divine.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, Concl. 107. We … sat on, So much the gathering darkness charm’d.
† 6. To conjure, entreat (a person) in some potent name. Obs.
1599. T. M[oufet], Silkwormes, 16. She Pyram drencht, and then thus charmes: Speake loue, O speake, how hapned this to thee?
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., II. i. 271. Vpon my knees, I charme you, by my once commended Beauty … That you vnfold to me … Why you are heauy.
a. 1734. North, Exam., II. iv. ¶ 15. 239. His learned Counsel … made an Harangue, charming him to be free … in answering to his Questions.
† 7. [Prob. with some assoc. with CHARM sb.2] To temper, tune, play (an instrument or melody).
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Oct., 118. Here we our slender pipes may safely charme. Ibid. (1595), Col. Clout, 5 (T.). Charming his oaten pipe vnto his peres. Ibid. (1596), F. Q., V. ix. 13. Like as the fouler on his guilefull pype Charmes to the birds full many a pleasant lay.
1609. Dekker, Gull’s Horn-bk. (1812), 32. O what songs will I charm out.
b. intr. (of an instrument): To sound harmoniously. See CHARMING ppl. a. 3.
